U.S. patent number 7,083,187 [Application Number 10/392,817] was granted by the patent office on 2006-08-01 for on-vehicle airbag apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Hideki Akiyama, Satoshi Iijima, Takenori Yamamoto.
United States Patent |
7,083,187 |
Akiyama , et al. |
August 1, 2006 |
On-vehicle airbag apparatus
Abstract
An on-vehicle airbag apparatus includes an airbag housing having
a weakened portion, which is breakable. An airbag is stored in a
folded state in the airbag housing so that the weakened portion is
broken upon inflation. An inflator for generating gas for inflating
the airbag is provided. The speed of response of air discharge from
the airbag is sufficiently enhanced. A shutter that can open and
close the air discharge port is mounted on a case. The case is
formed of rigid material, is hermetically connected to an opening
of the airbag and is provided with the air discharge port. A
shutter-driving actuator for driving a shutter from the closed
position to the opened position when in operation is connected to
the shutter.
Inventors: |
Akiyama; Hideki (Saitama,
JP), Iijima; Satoshi (Saitama, JP),
Yamamoto; Takenori (Saitama, JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
27800430 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/392,817 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20030222439 A1 |
Dec 4, 2003 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 26, 2002 [JP] |
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2002-085679 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/730.1;
280/742; 280/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J
27/00 (20130101); B60R 21/276 (20130101); B60R
21/16 (20130101); B62J 27/20 (20200201); B60R
2021/0088 (20130101); B62K 2202/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/239 (20060101); B60R 21/276 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;280/730.1,739,742 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1 112 902 |
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Jul 2001 |
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EP |
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2130150 |
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May 1984 |
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GB |
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2-216343 |
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Aug 1990 |
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JP |
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11-334521 |
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Dec 1999 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Dickson; Paul N.
Assistant Examiner: Rosenberg; Laura B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An on-vehicle airbag apparatus comprising: an airbag housing
having a weakened portion, said weakened portion being breakable;
an airbag stored in a folded state in said airbag housing so that
said weakened portion is broken upon inflation; an inflator for
generating gas for inflating the airbag; a case formed of rigid
material hermetically connected to an opening of said airbag and
provided with an air discharge port; a shutter mounted on said case
so as to be capable of moving between a closed position in which
said air discharge port is closed and an opened position in which
said air discharge port is opened; and a shutter-driving actuator
connected to said shutter so as to hold said shutter in the closed
position when it is not in use and drive said shutter
instantaneously from the closed position to the opened position
upon actuation, the shutter-driving actuator including one end
fixed to a side of the case and an opposite end connected to said
shutter, the shutter-driving actuator pulling the shutter in a
direction away from the case when sliding from the closed position
to the opened position.
2. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising; a pressure sensor, said pressure sensor detecting the
pressure in said airbag; and a control unit, said control unit
controlling operation of the shutter-driving actuator.
3. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said control unit actuates said shutter-driving actuator to drive
said shutter upon initiation of a lowering of a pressure value
detected by the pressure sensor after the pressure has initially
increased.
4. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said shutter-driving actuator includes a rod mounted for movement
thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon
actuation of said shutter-driving actuator to move said shutter
from said closed position to said opened position.
5. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving actuator from said
closed position to said opened position.
6. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said weakened portion is formed between a lid and a body of said
airbag housing, said lid including a hinged portion connecting said
lid to said body of said airbag housing.
7. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said shutter-driving actuator includes a rod mounted for movement
thereon, said rod being attached to said shutter and movable upon
actuation of said shutter-driving acuator to move said shutter from
said closed position to said opened position.
8. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said shutter is slidable by said shutter-driving actuator from said
closed position to said opened position.
9. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said weakened portion is formed between a lid and a body of said
airbag housing, said lid including a hinged portion connecting said
lid to said body of said airbag housing.
10. A method of protecting an operator of a vehicle equipped with
the on-vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, said method
including mounting said on-vehicle airbag apparatus below a seat of
said vehicle.
11. An air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus,
the on-vehicle airbag apparatus including an airbag housing having
a weakened portion, which is breakable, an airbag stored in a
folded state in the airbag housing so that the weakened portion is
broken upon inflation, and an inflator for generating gas for
inflating the airbag, said air discharge mechanism comprising: a
case formed of rigid material hermetically connectable to an
opening of the airbag and provided with an air discharge port; a
shutter mounted on said case so as to be capable of moving between
a closed position in which said air discharge port is closed and an
opened position in which said air discharge port is opened; and a
shutter-driving actuator connected to said shutter so as to hold
said shutter in the closed position when it is not in use and to
slide said shutter instantaneously from the closed position to the
opened position upon actuation, the shutter-driving actuator
including one end fixed to a side of the case and an opposite end
connected to said shutter, the shutter-driving actuator pulling the
shutter in a direction away from the case when sliding from the
closed position to the opened position.
12. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 11, further comprising; a pressure sensor, said
pressure sensor being capable of detecting the pressure in the
airbag; and a control unit, said control unit controlling operation
of the shutter-driving actuator.
13. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 12, wherein said control unit actuates said
shutter-driving actuator to drive said shutter upon initiation of a
lowering of a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor after
the pressure has initially increased.
14. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 12, wherein said shutter-driving actuator
includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being
attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said
shutter-driving actuator to move said shutter from said closed
position to said opened position.
15. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 12, wherein said shutter is slidable by said
shutter-driving actuator from said closed position to said opened
position.
16. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein said shutter-driving actuator
includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod being
attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said
shutter-driving actuator to move said shutter from said closed
position to said opened position.
17. The air discharge mechanism for an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein said shutter is slidable by said
shutter-driving actuator from said closed position to said opened
position.
18. A vehicle comprising: a frame; a seat, said seat being mounted
on said frame; and and airbag apparatus, said airbag apparatus
being mounted below said seat and comprising: an airbag housing
having a weakened portion, said weakened portion being breakable;
an airbag stored in a folded state in said airbag housing so that
said weakened portion is broken upon inflation; an inflator for
generating gas for inflating the airbag; a case formed of rigid
material hermetically connected to an opening of said airbag and
provided with an air discharge port; a shutter mounted on said case
so as to be capable of moving between a closed position in which
said air discharge port is closed and an opened position in which
said air discharge port is opened; and a shutter-driving actuator
connected to said shutter so as to hold said shutter in the closed
position when it is not in use and drive said shutter
instantaneously from the closed position to the opened position
upon actuation.
19. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising; a
pressure sensor, said pressure sensor detecting the pressure in
said airbag; and a control unit, said control unit controlling
operation of the shutter-driving actuator.
20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said control unit
actuates said shutter-driving actuator to drive said shutter upon
initiation of a lowering of a pressure value detected by the
pressure sensor after the pressure has initially increased.
21. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said shutter-driving
actuator includes a rod mounted for movement thereon, said rod
being attached to said shutter and movable upon actuation of said
shutter-drivingactuator to move said shutter from said closed
position to said opened position.
22. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said shutter is
slidable by said shutter-drivingactuator from said closed position
to said opened position.
23. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said weakened
portion is formed between a lid and a body of said airbag housing,
said lid including a hinged portion connecting said lid to said
body of said airbag housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2002-085679 filed in Japan
on Mar. 26, 2002, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-vehicle airbag apparatus
including an airbag housing having a weakened portion, which is
breakable. An airbag is stored in the folded state so as to break
the aforementioned weakened portion upon inflation. An inflator is
provided for generating gas for inflating the airbag. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an improved
structure in which a bouncing phenomenon of an occupant is
prevented from occurring by exhausting air from the airbag when the
airbag is in the inflated state.
2. Description of the Background Art
An air bag apparatus as described above is already known in the
related art. For example, in JP-A-2-216343, an airbag apparatus is
adapted to prevent internal pressure of the airbag from exceeding a
predetermined pressure by opening an exhaust valve provided on the
airbag in response to an increase in the internal pressure of the
airbag to a preset value after inflation of the airbag.
However, in the airbag in the related art described above, opening
of the exhaust valve is performed by an electric actuator such as a
solenoid or the like. Thus the speed of response of opening the
exhaust valve is not sufficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention
is to provide an on-vehicle airbag apparatus in which the speed of
response of air discharge from the airbag may be sufficiently
improved.
In order to achieve the object described above, according to a
first aspect of the present invention, the on-vehicle airbag
apparatus includes an airbag housing having a weakened portion,
which is breakable. The airbag is stored in the folded state in the
airbag housing so that the weakened portion is broken upon
inflation. An inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag
is included. The on-vehicle airbag apparatus further includes a
case formed of rigid material hermetically connected to the opening
of the airbag and provided with an air discharge port. A shutter is
mounted on the case so as to be capable of moving between a closed
position in which the air discharge port is closed and an opened
position in which the air discharge port is opened. A
shutter-driving actuator is connected to the shutter so as to hold
the shutter in the closed position when it is not in use and to
drive the shutter instantaneously from the closed position to the
opened position upon actuation.
According to the structure described above, the shutter-driving
actuator moves the shutter from the closed position to the opened
position instantaneously. Accordingly, the shutter is opened
quickly at the timing when the shutter should be opened, and hence
the speed of response of air discharge from the airbag may be
improved.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a pressure
sensor is provided for detecting the pressure in the airbag, and a
control unit for controlling operation of the shutter-driving
actuator so as to actuate the shutter-driving actuator upon
initiation of a lowering of the value detected by the pressure
sensor after the pressure has initially increased.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag
is inflated while breaking the airbag housing by actuating the
inflator in response to exertion of impact on the vehicle to
restrain and decelerate the occupant. The shutter-driving actuator
is actuated to move the shutter instantaneously to the opened
position in which the shutter opens the air discharge port in
response to a change in the pressure in the airbag from an
increasing state to a reducing state after a reduction of the speed
of the occupant, thereby abruptly reducing the pressure in the
airbag. In other words, after restraining the occupant effectively
by the airbag having a sufficient internal pressure, bouncing of
the occupant can be prevented to the utmost by abruptly reducing
the internal pressure of the airbag immediately before bouncing of
the occupant occurs.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,
it should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention,
are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a scooter-type motorcycle;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the portion
indicated by an arrow 2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a drawing of the portion indicated by an arrow 3 in FIG.
2 in a state in which the shutter is in the closed position;
FIG. 4 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3, in a state in which
the shutter is in the opened position;
FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a change of the pressure in the airbag
after it is inflated;
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2
in a state in which the airbag is inflated;
FIG. 7 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state in which
the airbag is inflated; and
FIG. 8 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 6 in a state in which the
shutter is opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described based on an
example of the present invention shown in attached drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is
a side view of the scooter-type motorcycle; FIG. 2 is an enlarged
vertical cross sectional view of the portion indicated by an arrow
2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a drawing of the portion indicated by an
arrow 3 in FIG. 2 in a state in which the shutter is in the closed
position; FIG. 4 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3, in a state
in which the shutter is in the opened position; FIG. 5 is a drawing
showing a change of the pressure in the airbag after it is
inflated; FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view corresponding
to FIG. 2 in a state in which the airbag is inflated; FIG. 7 is a
side view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state in which the airbag is
inflated; and FIG. 8 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 6 in a
state in which the shutter is opened.
In FIG. 1, a front fork 7 is steerably supported on a head pipe 6
provided at the front end of a vehicle body frame 5 of the
scooter-type motorcycle. A front wheel WF is rotatably supported at
the lower end of the front fork 7. A steering handle 8 is connected
to the upper portion of the front fork 7. An engine unit 9 is
supported for vertical swinging motion at the rear portion of the
vehicle body frame 5. A transmission case 11 of a transmission 10
for shifting and transmitting power from the engine unit 9 to a
rear wheel WR extends rearward from the engine unit 9 and the rear
wheel WR is rotatably supported at the rear portion of the
transmission case 11. A rear cushion unit 13 is provided between a
seat rail 12 provided at the rear potion of the vehicle body frame
5 and the rear end of the transmission case 11.
The vehicle body frame 5 is covered by a vehicle body cover 14
formed of synthetic resin. The vehicle body cover 14 includes a
front cover 15 for covering the front portion of the head pipe 6
and the upper portion of a front wheel WF. A pair of left and right
leg shields 16 are joined to both left and right sides of the front
cover 15 for covering forwardly of the occupant's legs. A pair of
left and right foot rest portions 17 continues from the leg shields
16 for supporting the feet of the occupant. A floor tunnel portion
18 rises upwardly at the portion between the foot rest portions 17.
Skirt portions 19 extend downward from the outer edges of both of
the foot rest portions 17 respectively. A rear cover 20 covers the
left and right sides of the rear portion of the vehicle body frame
5 and is joined to the foot rest portions 17 and the floor tunnel
portion 18.
A tandem seat 21 having a front seat portion 21a on which the
operator sits and a rear seat portion 21b disposed rearwardly of
the front seat portion 21a so that a fellow passenger can sit
thereon is provided on the rear cover 20.
Referring also to FIG. 2, a supporting stay 23 is secured to a seat
rail 12 of the vehicle body frame 5 at a position downwardly of the
front portion of the seat 21. An airbag module 24 of the airbag
apparatus is mounted on the supporting stay 23.
The airbag module 24 includes an airbag housing 25, an airbag 26 to
be stored in the airbag housing 25, and an inflator 27 for
generating gas for inflating the airbag 26.
The airbag housing 25 is mounted to the supporting stay 23 facing
toward an opening formed on the rear cover 20 below the front
portion of the seat 21. The airbag housing 25 includes a
cylindrical storage portion 25a in which the airbag 26 can be
stored in the folded state and a lid portion 25b for covering an
upper end opening of the cylindrical storage portion 25a. The
airbag housing 25 is formed of light weight material such as
synthetic resin into a cap shape and is mounted to the supporting
stay 23 by a mounting strip 28 for attaching a lower end opening of
the cylindrical storage portion 25a to the supporting stay 23. The
lid portion 25b is connected to the cylindrical storage portion 25a
via a hinged portion 25c which is disposed at a position on the
periphery of the lid portion 25b, for example, a position opposite
from the seat 21. A weakened portion 25d is disposed at a portion
of the periphery of the lid portion 25b other than the hinged
portion 25c. The weakened portion 25d is formed so as to be broken
easily.
The airbag 26 is formed like a bag having an opening 26a on the
lower surface thereof. The airbag 26 is stored in the airbag
housing 25 in a folded state. The inflator 27 is supported by a
mouth ring 29 secured to the opening 26a on the lower surface of
the airbag 26. The mouth ring 29 is fixedly supported by the
mounting strip 28.
The vehicle body frame 5 is provided with an impact detection
sensor (not shown) such as an acceleration sensor and the like. The
inflator 27 is actuated in response to the impact detection sensor
upon detection of an impact larger than a predetermined value. The
inflator 27 supplies high pressure gas into the airbag 26.
The mounting strip 28 is fixed with a case 30, which is formed of
rigid material into a bottomed cylindrical shape. The mounting
strip 28 is connected hermetically to the lower end opening 26a of
the airbag 26. An air discharge port 31, for example, of a square
shape is formed at the closed end of the case 30.
A shutter 32 is mounted to the outer surface of the closed end of
the case 30 so as to be capable of sliding motion between a closed
position in which the air discharge port 31 is closed and an opened
position in which the air discharge port 31 is opened as shown in
FIG. 3. A shutter-driving actuator 33, which is fixedly supported
by the case 30, is connected to the shutter 32.
The shutter-driving actuator 33 includes a rod 33a which is
actuated by gas generated when the inflator is actuated and
projected therefrom. The rod 33a is connected to the shutter 32 in
such a manner that the shutter 32 is moved instantaneously from the
closed position to the opened position in response to actuation of
the device for holding the shutter 32 in the closed position when
it is not in operation.
Actuation, that is, ignition of the shutter-driving actuator 33 is
controlled by a control unit 34. The control unit 34 controls
actuation of the shutter-driving actuator 33 based on a detected
value of a pressure sensor 35 mounted to the mouth ring 29 so as to
detect the pressure in the airbag 26.
In this manner, the control unit 34 controls actuation of the
shutter-driving actuator 33 in such a manner that the
shutter-driving actuator 33 is actuated at a timing t1 when the
detected value of the pressure sensor 35, in other words, the
pressure in the airbag 26 starts to be lowered after it is
increased once, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 5.
The operation of the present embodiment will be described. The air
discharge port 31 and the shutter 32 that is capable of opening and
closing the air discharge port 31 is mounted on the case,
hermetically connected to the lower opening 26a of the airbag 26.
The shutter 32 is connected with the shutter-driving actuator 33
for closing the air discharge port 31 when it is not in operation.
The shutter 32 is driven to open the air discharge port 31 by the
control unit 34 by actuating the shutter-driving actuator 33 in
response to lowering of the detected value of the pressure sensor
35 for detecting the pressure in the airbag 26 after it is
increased once.
In other words, the air discharge port 31 is closed in the normal
state, and when an impact of more than a predetermined value is
detected by the impact detection sensor due to collision or the
like under such condition, the inflator 27 is actuated and feeds
high-pressure gas into the airbag 26. The airbag 26 breaks the
weakened portion 25d of the airbag housing 25 and instantaneously
expands upwardly while opening the lid portion 25b by breaking the
weakened portion 25d of the airbag housing 25 as shown in FIGS. 6
and 7. Accordingly, the operator sitting on the front seat portion
21a of the seat 21 may be restrained by the inflated and deployed
airbag 26 from the front.
When the pressure in the airbag 26 is changed from the increasing
state to a lowering state after the operator is decelerated by the
inflated and deployed airbag 26, as shown in FIG. 8, the
shutter-driving actuator 33 is actuated and the shutter 32 moves
instantaneously to the opened position where the air discharge port
31 is opened, thereby abruptly decreasing the pressure in the
airbag 26. In this manner, the speed of response of air discharge
from the airbag 26 may be enhanced sufficiently by adapting the
shutter 32 to be opened quickly at the timing when the shutter 32
should be opened by making the shutter 32 move to the opened
position by the shutter-driving actuator 33.
In other words, the internal pressure of the airbag 26 is increased
to a value that is sufficient for effectively restraining and
decelerating the operator and then is lowered quickly. Thus, the
bouncing phenomenon of the operator that may occur after the
internal pressure in the airbag 26 reaches the maximum value, that
is, a phenomenon to accelerate the operator in the opposite
direction may be prevented from occurring. Consequently, secondary
impact to the operator due to the bouncing phenomenon may be
prevented from occurring.
Although the internal pressure in the airbag 26 is lowered by
discharging air from the airbag disclosed in the aforementioned
publication of JP-A-2-216343, this device is adapted to hold back
the maximum reaction force while obtaining more desirable reaction
force depending on the conditions of collision or physical
construction of the operator by lowering the pressure shown by a
chain line in FIG. 5 to the pressure represented by a broken line
in FIG. 5, but it is not intended to cope with the bouncing
phenomenon that may occur after reaching the maximum internal
pressure.
In contrast to the related art, the present invention prevents the
occurrence of the bouncing phenomenon of the operator by
discharging air quickly from the airbag 26 in response to a
lowering of the pressure after the pressure in the airbag 26
reaches the maximum pressure as described above. In addition, since
air is discharged from the airbag 26 quickly in response to a
lowering of the pressure after the pressure in the airbag 26
reaches the maximum pressure irrespective of increasing speed of
the pressure in the airbag 26, the occurrence of the bouncing
phenomenon may be prevented irrespective of the conditions of
collision.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described
thus far, the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiment, and various modifications in design may
be made without departing the scope of the invention.
For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, the case in which
the present invention is applied to a scooter-type motorcycle has
been described. However, the present invention is applicable to
four-wheeled passenger cars as well as small vehicles such as
motorcycles other than scooter-type motorcycles and three-wheeled
motorcycles.
As described thus far, according to the first aspect of the present
invention, the speed of response of air discharge from the airbag
may be sufficiently improved by adapting the shutter to open
quickly at a timing when the shutter should be opened.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, effective
restraint of the occupant by the airbag is enabled, and the
bouncing of the occupant may be minimized from occurring after the
internal pressure in the airbag reached the maximum value.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the
same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *